IBEW37 | New Brunswick – Power of a collective: Atlantic Canada Health Care Coalition Society brings together its 86 union member groups to support the IWK

Halifax, N.S. (Oct. 15, 2024) – On behalf of the Atlantic Canada Health Care Coalition Society (ACHCCS), Executive Director Fern Tardif is announcing their organization’s first ever philanthropic gift — a $10,000 multi-year donation supporting urgent care priorities at IWK Health.

Founded in 2008, the ACHCCS is the first coalition of its kind in Canada. It currently has 86 member groups comprised of over 800 union locals representing over 300,000 members, retirees and their families across Atlantic Canada. Learn more: https://www.achccs.ca

“Unions who are part of the ACHCCS use their collective purchasing power to provide discounts on value-added benefits for their members and families through the coalition programs with their providers and partners,” said Fern Tardif, Executive Director, ACHCCS. “In this spirit of working to help our members, the ACHCCS wants to collectively support the exceptional work the IWK does every day for patients and families throughout the region.”

The IWK is an integral part of the region’s communities, caring for women, children, youth and families across Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick and providing sub-specialty care to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is home to the only emergency department in the Maritimes that specializes in the care of infants, children and youth and is the only accredited Level 1 pediatric trauma centre east of Quebec.

Donors and supporters like the ACHCCS ensure the IWK has access to specialized equipment, advanced technology, ground-breaking research and updated facilities to help patients and families receive world-class care close to home.

“We are so grateful for the generosity and support of the ACHCCS, its members, and their families,” said Jennifer Gillivan, President & CEO, IWK Foundation. “The ACHCCS and the IWK Foundation have a shared belief in the power and impact of community, and we look forward to building on this partnership in the years to come. It is a privilege to work together to impact women, children, youth and families who rely on the care only the IWK can provide in our region.”

About the Atlantic Canada Health Care Coalition Society (ACHCCS)
The ACHCCS was formed to develop and consolidate the purchasing power of benefit plans, unions, associations and other groups in Atlantic Canada. It currently has 86 groups comprised of over 800 union locals and is the first coalition of its kind in Canada. ACHCCS is a member of the National Labor Alliance of Health Care Coalitions. To view members of the ACHCCS, visit: https://www.achccs.ca/groups.html and to view information on benefit providers, visit: https://www.achccs.ca/providers.html.
The most often used programs by union members and retirees in the ACHCCS include: Vivanta (formerly MHCSI) – a leading pharmacy owned and operated preferred provider pharmacy benefit manager in Canada. Vivanta services companies and organizations of all sizes with membership from coast to coast, and helps clients save on prescription costs and other health and wellness needs to support access to care and improve health outcomes. Learn more: vivantahealth.ca The Co-operators Group Home and Auto Insurance – ACHCCS members receive a group rate on home and auto insurance. There has been a considerable increase of members using this program over the last couple of years due to the savings they received under the ACHCCS group rate for their home and auto insurance.

About the IWK Foundation
The IWK Foundation is a champion of excellence in women’s and children’s health and medicine and works in partnership with IWK Health to support their vision of providing quality care to women, children, youth and families in the Maritime Provinces and beyond. Our donors are passionately committed to making a difference for Maritime families, contributing over $25.2 million in support of the most urgent care priorities at the IWK last year. Funds raised also support the IWK’s global leadership in research and knowledge sharing, which in turn improves lives worldwide. Visit www.iwkfoundation.org for more information.